Dropping Of Unripe Persimmons - Knowledgebase Question

I have a Fuji persimmon tree that was planted at least 20 years ago and only harvested fruit 2 years ago. The fruit weighed in at 1lb. each. This year the fruit is the size normally seen in markets, but is starting to drop off again. What can be the problem?

This kind of fruit drop is usually related to unevening watering, either through changes in rainfall or deluges from the hose. Sudden increases in water uptake are a stress and can cause fruit trees to drop a potion of the fruit.

If the water levels become more steady, usually only a portion of the crop is dropped. Although we cannot do anything about the rainfall, we can level off the water levels by keeping plants well watered during dry periods. It is the alternating very dry, very wet pattern that causes the stress.

Another problem persimmon growers sometimes have is over-fertilization. Persimmons should only be fertilized once a year, in late winter, before any fruit is on the trees. Fertilizing after fruit is on the tree forces the plant to grow foliage. Unable to hold fruit and produce a flush of growth, the plant drops the fruit.